Device for perforating the ends of cigars



Jan. 4, 1938. M. cARABALLo ETAL 2,104,291

DEVICE FOR PERFORATING THE 'ENDS OF CIGARS Filed April 22, 1955 2 sheetsheet 1 2.5 Z4' ,Faggio VII/IIIA 'II/L Jan.'4, 1938. M. CARABALLO ET A1. 2,104,291

DEVICE FOR PERFQRATING THE ENDS OF CIGARS Filed April 22, 195s 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Jan. 4, 1938 PATENT GFFICE DEVICE FOR PERFORATING THE ENDS OF f v CIGARS Martin Caraballo and Joseph G. Zendegui,

Tampa, Fla.

Application April 22,

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in cigar perforating machines and has for an object to provide a device for piercing the ends of cigars whereby the smoke may be readily drawn through the g same into the smokers mouth.

Another object of the invention is to dispense with the necessity of a smoker biting off the end of the cigar preparatory to lighting the Same. This is a necessary but uncleanly and disagreeable practice, the tobacco getting into the mouth of the smoker and the grains of the tobacco getting'in and about the teeth so that it is sometimes difficult to dislodgethe same. The tobacco ller also has an undesirable taste reaction in the mouth.

A further object of the invention is to avoid this undesirable practice and to provide a better draft for the smoke.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a device which will not only perforate the ends or tips of the cigars but will also automatically remove the cut fragments so that they will not iind their way into the smokers mouth. Y

With the foregoing and other objects in` view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure l is a side elevation, with parts broken away and parts shown in section, of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown in initial position,

Figure 2 illustrates the same device with the needle projected into the cigar, and

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section showing a modified form of the device.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 5 designates a receptacle maintained in a condition of partial vacuum through the connection of an exhauster or pump, the connection being made at 5, which is a pipe section or nipple upstanding from the screw threaded or other cover 1 of the glass jar or other container or receptacle 5. This cover also carries a pipe neck or nipple 8 connecting with a ilexible hose or tube 9 with the 0 vertical branch pipe I0 extending down from a cylinder I I. The axis of the cylinder I I is preferably horizontal and the cylinder II removably carries a head I2 in which is formed a recess or concavity I3 of a shape to receive the tip or closed end of a cigar indicated in dotted lines at I4'. At

1935,' Serial No. 17,703

the base of the concavity I3 is an opening I5 through which slides a hollow needle I6 having a pointed or tapered and sharpened end I1. The needle I6 is aflixed as by a set screw I8 or other fastening, in the tubular neck I9 of a plunger 20 mounted to reciprocate in the cylinder II.j LeatherV or other cups 2l and 22 or other pressure holding devices are carried by opposite end portions oi the plunger and expanded outwardly against the interior wall of the cylinder II. The packing 2|. is received upon the reduced neck i9 and against `a shoulder 23 of the plunger, the

neck I3 being threaded whereby to receive a nut 24 for the purpose of binding the packing against said shoulder 23.

The other packing 22 is similarly held against a shoulder 25 by means of a nut 26 threaded upon the plunger rod 21.

'I'he plunger 20 is provided with a. forwardly cut-away portion 28 in line :with the hollow neck I9 and opening through the lower portion of the plunger whereby to communicate with .the interior of the pipe section Il). The packing 2| is cut away at 29in order to match the cut-away portion 28.

The plunger rod 21 has pivoted thereto, as indicated at 30, a link 3|. Thelink is pivoted to the upstanding vertical arm 32 of a bell crank lever, fulcrumed at 33 to a support 34. The horizontal arm 35 of the bell crank lever carries an anti-friction roller 36 and is normally held elevated by a coil spring 31 attached to the arm 35 and to a supporting bracket 38 secured by the screws or other fastenings 39 to the support 34.

An eccentric 4i) is mounted in the support 34 above the roller 36 and the spring 31 maintains the roller 36 up against the eccentric 40. Such eccentric is pivoted at 4I on the support 34 and has attached thereto a crank handle 42 for convenience in rotating the same.

In the operation of the device the parts initially assume the position shown in Figure 1 with the crank handle 42 raised and the spring 31 contracted in the act of raising the roller 36 against the eccentric 40, which action holds the needle I 6 retracted out of the concavity I3. In this position a cigar is centered with its tip or closed end in the concavity I3, which concavity will present the cigar so that the needle will perforate the exact center thereof. Thereupon the crank handle 42 is rotated through a half revolution or down to the position shown in Figure 2, which will cause the high point of the eccentric to descend upon the roller 36, thus distending the spring 31 and causing the bell crank lever to rock electric motor.

about its fulcrum 33. The plunger 20 is forced inwardly into the cylinder II and the needle IiiV projected through the opening I5 and into the tip end of the cigar. During this time the cigar is held firmly with one hand while the crank 42 is operated by the other hand. Of course the crank will be given one complete turn in the actual operation so as to cause the needle Yto penetrate the cigar and to be withdrawn therefrom to the initial position shown'in FigureY 1. The needle will cut a round hole in the tip end of the cigar and by virtue of the hollow character of 'the needle and its connection with the vacuum receptacle 5 through the tube 9 and its connections, lthe cuttings or particles cut from the cigar are automatically and quickly drawn out through the needle and into the receptacle 5, thus leaving a clean hole in the cigar free `ofany loose particles, dust or foreign matter. Y

It is obvious that the operation of the device can be speeded up byconnectingth'e same to an This motor :may be the same one that operates the exhaust pump. Bya suitable tripping device located within the concavity I3 the motor circuit may be closed uponthe insertion -of a vcigar therein. This intermittent motion of the needle may also be produced Vin other ways.

The hollow needle :is made removable so that diiferent diameters can be used to accommodate different sizes of cigars. The. block containing .the concavity is also `removable so as to provide interchangeable blocks with different sized concavities .to viit various sizes of cigars.V The parts may be made of any material desired. For instance, a successful V.device utilizes wood for the 'block I2, iron yforlthe cylinder III and brass or bronze for the packing cups 2I `and 22. Such .packingcups provide afbetter bearing'surfaceand contribute to the-exclusion of outside air which would otherwise rush in .to take the placeV of the vacuum created by the suction pump, thus preventing the full useof :said Vacuum through Vthe hollow needle.

Referring more particularly to Figure-3, there is shownin thisfcase a 'tapered hollow `needle I'Ia so Aas to facilitatethe passage of the tobacco which iscut off by the needle. AIn -this case the vpipe section Illa, instead of being connected 'with the cylinder -as in the lformer' case, is carried Aby the plunger -ZBaand reciprocates-back and forth therewith. A ilexiblehose-4'3 isconnected fto the pipefsection or nipple IIJa and also to the nipple 8 of the `receptacle 5, which is not shown in this gure. of vacuum. The ilexible hose 43 will preferably be reinforced against collapse. A flexible metal tube such .as the ones used in gas stoves, etc. will be useful for the purpose.

The device may also take the form of a port- Y able machine shaped somewhat after the fashion of a pistol'so that the completed bunches of cigars can be perforated Without untying them. It will be obvious that various changes may be Vmade in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts which could be used without .departing'from the spirit of our invention and we do not mean to limit the invention to such details except as particularly pointed out in the claims.

Having thus described our invention what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States isz- 1 .An improved cigar perforating device com- .prising a cylinder, .a plunger therein, a hollow Vneck extending yforwardly from said plunger, said -plungerhavingY a cut-away portion back of and. communicating 4with said neck, vpacking devices'on theplungeriat opposite -sidesof said cutaway portion, a hollow cutting tool carried lby said neck, and -a vacuum-connection to -said cutaway portion.

.2. In Aa 'device 'for perforating therclosed tips of .cigarsga'stationary member having a;concavity f'fcr Areceivingthe closedV tip of the cigar and for holding the cigar in a stationary position with the walls of :its tip backed by `the Ywalls of said concavity, a hollow perforatingneedle movable back fand forthwith respect to Vsaid stationary member t :i

and having a cutting end portion movable into ,and out of saidconcavity whereby to pierce the closedfend of thefcigar, and means connecting with the hollow interior of .the needle .for withdrawing the Acut .portions of the cigar throughY the hollow portion of .the needle.

3. The Jherein .described `method for perforating .cigar tips, which consistsin centering the Y cigar .tip in a stationary position without pressure thereon, backing said cigar tip on all sides,

rand while said cigar tip is so .backedandso sta- Aby .to .rapidly withdraw the cut .particles ias .the

.piercing .action progresses AMARIIN CARABALLO. V.iIOSIElPI-I GQ ZENDEGUI.

This insures that there shall be no loss 

